Here's an EMG preamp question

My EMG 2 band just sucks. The frequency boost-cut makes no audible difference. I'm totally goign to replace mine whenever I feel like it.

 

I have an EMG BTS (2 band) preamp in my bass and i find it to be plenty flexible. i can choose a high frequency anywhere between 2khz and 7khz. i used to have it set on 4.4khz, but its up to 7 now since im playing nickel strings again instead of steel. I find adjusting the pickup blend to be my most effective means of changing the mid range to get different tones. that and changing technique.

 

FWIW:

I've had both the BTC and BQC pre's and there was nothing lacking when compared to Bart and Aggie pres. The BQC I ran as an outboard with lots of different pups with no issue. Not with HZ's but I didn't have them at the same time.

The HZ's I found had decent tone but it was a royal pain to find it. One thing I didn't like about the EMG BQC was the variable mid. That also made it a pain to find a tone and get back. I would imagine combining the variable mid with HZ's would be a varietable nightmare trying to get tone. I also had a Schec Elite which was a neckthrough and NT's in my limited experience put out sort of a muddy/compressed like tone. If that's a factor along with the other 2, well it's not getting better. Add 5 string, which I'm assuming is tuned down not up, and you'd need seriously deep cabs to keep low frequencies from being mud. It may be you're only getting the harmonic midrange frequencies reproduced off the low end. You'd also need lots of amp to put the low end out.

Mud is midrange and probably the last thing you'd need would be a midrange boost. Maybe that's the issue, you're cranking mids. Cut the mids and see what you get.

Also look at the acoustics in the environment. Lower frequencies are the most difficult to reproduce so you may be too close to be picking up the lows so you're only hearing the mid. Bass frequencies are usually best reproduced and heard from corners. If you've got enough room, you can just walk around to different points and it's like you're adjusting eq when absoluting nothing is being changed but your relationship to the sound. Sit down/stand up it changes. You can make tone muddy just by walking off to about a 45 degree angle from the side of the speakers.

I would rule out the cheap stuff before pulling wires and buying new stuff only to find that wasn't the issue to begin with.

The sansamp thing don't know about but if you like the tone there just play through it. I've got a Sans di and to me it actually filters/muddies tone (in a muffled way) but it may be cleaning up some of the mids so it sounds better. Mine also darkens/beefens tone up throwing more apparent bass into the mix which if yours does the some would thin some of the boxie mid out. The Di also has no midrange control.

 

I have the EMG BTS system and the variable midrange paired with EMG P/J's in an old '79 Ibanez Roadster, and it is easily my most versatile instrumtent as far as tone. I can get any tone I want. It is a bit sterile at times, but the EQ is great. My guess is that if Schecter skimped with the HZ's, they probably skimped on the pre amp as well.

 

I use a BTS (2 band) that I really like; I had the 3 band in my bass, but didn't like the mid knob. Anyway, both those preamps have 2 DIP switches on the pc board that alter the midrange bump frequency; try playing with that till you find what you like.

 

FWIW:

I believe those dips adjust treble knee frequency not mids but all frequencies interact so wouldn't hurt to check out the affect. Its cheap. As for another band range, cutting bass has been my most frequent cure for clearing up mud rather than dinking with trebles.

 

Which 3 band? The BQ or one of the B30s?

Maybe not wired properly...and as stated, the HZs are okay, just hard to find good tone, IME.